Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and don’t usually contribute to forums. However, i have just experienced an ectopic pregnancy and would like to enquire if anyone else has had the same following removal of the contraceptive coil?
I had the copper coil inserted eight years ago. It was due to be removed this october but in May it came out spontaneously. I went to the local women’s clinic in June with the intention of having a new coil fitted. The doctor at the clinic asked me to wait another three weeks instead as this would be the most optinal time in terms of my cycle. I was fully checked over and had a negative pregnancy test. My next appointment would be 25th July.
Following my appointment i started experiencing light bleeding. This appears to be common in ectopic pregnancI and blood was brownish in colour. The bleeding persisted but was light and i ignored it. Two weeks ago however i had to leave work ealy due to strong cramps. Most of my pain was in my right groin at this time. I visited my gp that afternoon and got a locum. The gp focused on the fact that i had had the issue with the coil and said this pain was probably normal. He didnt test anything and sent me home. I didnt feel listened to so i just went home to rest and Saturday i carried on as normal. Saturday night i woke up in accute pain. Pain was in my groin and stomach with cramps similar to labour. This lasted four hours. My husband wanted me to go to hospital but i was considering what the gp had said and thought it must be normal. On Sunday, to satisfy my husbands concern i went to an out of hours clinic. My urine was tested for infection and i was sent on my way, again having been told this pain was related to the removal of my coil.
The following week i had small bouts of pain and lots of spasms in my vagina and rectum ( apparently common with ectopic).
This saturday i had been okay all day but then pain started out of no where. Pain, spspas, inability to urinate and i felt light headed. At this point i told my husband to go get me a pregnancy test because we had ruled out infection and i found it strange that almost two month post coil i was suddenly having this pain. The test came back positive and i knew instantly this must be ectopic. I had been googling symptoms and reading forums whilst waiting for the test and i appeared to tick every box.
I took myself to a and e and was promptly admitted to the early pregnancy unit. On Monday i had a scan and my uterus was clear but my right falopian tube and ovary was swollen. I later spoke with the registrar who said things were still inconculsive. She advised that the swelling could be due to past infection and i was worried i was going to be sent home. The registrar advised i needed a hcg test and if my bloods had significantly dropped it would be presumed that i was experiencing an early miscarriage.
My test came back and they hadn’t quite doubled but hadn’t dropped enough to suggest misscarriage. I saw another dr whom informed me that i needed exploratory surgery.
I had the surgery tuesday afternoon and the pregnancy was ectopic. They removed my right tube and ovary. The pain post op was horrendous. I have had back surgery before but this was awful. They couldnt manage my pain and i had a cocktail of drugs before being sent back to the ward.
This morning i spoke with the surgeon who advised i had two slight ruptures in my fallopian tube which accounts for the pain and my swollen abdomen. Apparently had i left it another few days it would have fully ruptured.
I am so lucky to have three children already but my first pregnancy some years ago resulted in miscarriage. I remember thinking i would never have a baby and the devestation of it all.
I have been reading constantly in hosptial and i have come across a number of forums that talk about ectopic pregnancy after having the coil removed. Some women whom have had two ectopics or ectopic and multiple miscarriage. Never was i warned that the risk of ectopic was still present once the coil was out. I don’t necessarily want more children but i think women who have the coil before they have completed their families ought to be aware of the potential risk. Maybe it is the case that i have been reading very specific threads but i would be interested to hear if other women have had a similar experience to mine or if anyone knows of any research in this area.
Thanks